Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:03:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 HelaineCS_DISSERT.pdf: 3181905 bytes, checksum: 5c020989070824dc8493d5f191c83a23 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-01-29 / Ag?ncia Brasileira da Inova??o / Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a plant from Poaceae family that has an impressive ability to accumulate sucrose in the stalk, making it a significant component of the economy of many countries. About 100 countries produce sugarcane in an area of 22 million hectares worldwide. For this reason, many studies have been done using sugarcane as a plant model in order to improve production. A change in gravity may be one kind of abiotic stress, since it generates rapid responses after stimulation. In this work we decided to investigate the possible morphophysiological, biochemical and molecular changes resulting from microgravity. Here, we present the contributions of an experiment where sugarcane plants were submitted to microgravity flight using a vehicle VSB-30, a sounding rocket developed by Aeronautics and Space Institute teams, in cooperation with the German Space Agency. Sugarcane plants with 10 days older were submitted to a period of six minutes of microgravity using the VSB-30 rocket. The morphophysiological analyses of roots and leaves showed that plants submitted to the flight showed changes in the conduction tissues, irregular pattern of arrangement of vascular bundles and thickening of the cell walls, among other anatomical changes that indicate that the morphology of the plants was substantially influenced by gravitational stimulation, besides the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide, an important signaling molecule in stress conditions. We carried out RNA extraction and sequencing using Illumina platform. Plants subjected to microgravity also showed changes in enzyme activity. It was observed an increased in superoxide dismutase activity in leaves and a decreased in its activity in roots as well as for ascorbate peroxidase activity. Thus, it was concluded that the changes in gravity were perceived by plants, and that microgravity environment triggered changes associated with a reactive oxygen specie signaling process. This work has helped the understanding of how the gravity affects the structural organization of the plants, by comparing the anatomy of plants subjected to microgravity and plants grown in 1g gravity / A cana-de-a??car (Saccharum spp.) ? um planta da fam?lia Poaceae que possui uma impressionante capacidade de armazenar sacarose no colmo, o que a torna um significante componente da economia de muitos pa?ses. Aproximadamente 100 pa?ses produzem cana-de-a??car em uma ?rea de 22 milh?es de hectares no mundo. Por essas raz?es, diversos estudos sobre a resposta de culturas a estresse ambiental contemplam a cana-de-a??car. Uma mudan?a na gravidade pode ser um tipo de estresse abi?tico, uma vez que ? capaz de gerar respostas r?pidas ap?s a estimula??o gravitacional. No presente trabalho procurou-se investigar as poss?veis altera??es morfofisiol?gicas, bioqu?micas e moleculares decorrentes da microgravidade. Aqui s?o apresentadas as contribui??es do experimento de submiss?o de plantas de cana-de-a??car ? microgravidade atrav?s de voo em um ve?culo VSB-30, Plantas de cana-de-a??car cultivadas em condi??es controladas, com 10 dias de desenvolvimento, foram assim submetidas a um per?odo de seis minutos de microgravidade real. As an?lises morfofisiol?gicas de ra?zes e folhas mostraram que as plantas sofreram altera??o nos tecidos de condu??o da seiva e ?gua, padr?o de disposi??o irregular de feixes vasculares, espessamento de paredes celulares, entre outras modifica??es anat?micas que indicam que a morfologia das plantas foi substancialmente influenciada pela aus?ncia de est?mulo gravitacional, al?m do ac?mulo de per?xido de hidrog?nio, importante mol?cula de sinaliza??o em condi??es de estresse. Foi realizada a extra??o do RNA e o sequenciamento do RNA atrav?s da plataforma Illumina, e estas sequencias est?o sendo analisadas. Foram tamb?m observadas altera??es nas atividades enzim?ticas, com aumento na atividade de super?xido dismutase em folhas e redu??o da atividade de super?xido dismutase e ascorbato peroxidase em ra?zes. Assim, estes resultados permitem concluir que a altera??o da gravidade foi percebida pelas plantas de cana-de-a??car e o ambiente de microgravidade desencadeou altera??es associadas a um processo de sinaliza??o por meio de esp?cies reativas de oxig?nio em condi??es de estresse. O presente trabalho auxiliou, portanto, a compreender como a gravidade interfere na organiza??o estrutural das plantas, atrav?s da compara??o da anatomia de plantas submetidas ? microgravidade e plantas crescidas em gravidade 1g

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / O objetivo do presente trabalho foi caracterizar aspectos fisiolÃgicos e bioquÃmicos que mostrem se plantas de arroz (Oryza sativa) deficientes da enzima citosÃlica peroxidase do ascorbato (cAPX) sÃo mais suscetÃveis ao estresse oxidativo do que as plantas com cAPX. A APX Ã uma importante enzima do metabolismo oxidativo de plantas, atuando na regulaÃÃo dos nÃveis endÃgenos do perÃxido de hidrogÃnio (H2O2). Para isso, plantas deficientes em cAPX (Apx1/2s) e plantas nÃo transformadas (WT) foram utilizadas para a experimentaÃÃo. As plantas foram silenciadas pela tÃcnica do RNA de interferÃncia (iRNA) e cultivadas por 35 dias em vasos de 1.5 L contendo soluÃÃo nutritiva sob condiÃÃes de casa de vegetaÃÃo. O experimento I foi realizado com segmentos de folhas imersos em metil-viologÃnio (MV) 50 M durante 24h, e o experimento II foi realizado pela aplicaÃÃo dos seguintes estresses abiÃticos: salinidade, alta luminosidade e MV. Os resultados do experimento I mostraram que as plantas Apx1/2s possuem um nÃvel basal de H2O2 maior do que os nÃveis encontrados nas plantas WT, sugerindo que as plantas Apx1/2s apresentam um nÃvel de H2O2 prÃximo de um nÃvel de sinalizaÃÃo celular. O fato das plantas WT terem acumulado H2O2 apÃs 1h de tratamento sugere a necessidade de um nÃvel sinalizador de H2O2 para ativaÃÃo dos sistemas de defesa. As plantas Apx1/2s ao contrario das WT apresentaram uma queda constante no conteÃdo de H2O2, indicando uma provÃvel remoÃÃo do excesso de H2O2. ApÃs 3h de tratamento as enzimas SOD, APX e PHGPx de cloroplasto apresentaram atividade superior nas plantas Apx1/2s, tanto no controle quanto no estresse, comparadas com as plantas WT. Esses resultados sugerem existÃncia de um sistema antioxidante bastante ativado nas plantas Apx1/2s. No experimento II as plantas Apx1/2s nÃo apresentaram diferenÃas nos parÃmetros fotoquÃmicos quando comparadas com as plantas WT, mesmo possuindo uma menor fotossÃntese em condiÃÃes controle. A dissipaÃÃo do excesso de energia (NPQ) nas plantas Apx1/2s tratadas com luz foi, em mÃdia, maior que das plantas WT, indicando uma possÃvel maior eficiÃncia na dissipaÃÃo de energia. Mesmo com eficiente dissipaÃÃo de energia ambas as plantas nÃo conseguiram evitar energia excessiva no fotossistema e acabaram sofrendo fotoinibiÃÃo e danos no aparato fotossintÃtico (Fv/Fm). Em relaÃÃo Ãs plantas WT, as Apx1/2s apresentaram maior atividade das enzimas antioxidativas SOD, CAT e PHGPx nas condiÃÃes controle, na provÃvel tentativa de compensar a ausÃncia da cAPX. No tratamento com MV a isoforma cloroplÃstica da PHGPx foi estimulada em mais de 100% nas plantas Apx1/2s, indicando que essas plantas podem reparar danos oxidativos com mais rapidez que as WT. Os dados sugerem que as plantas Apx1/2s, apesar da ausÃncia da cAPX, ativam sistemas adicionais de proteÃÃo antioxidativa para compensar essa ausÃncia e responder mais rÃpida e eficientemente a situaÃÃes de estresse. / The aim of this study was to characterize physiological and biochemical aspects that show if rice plants (Oryza sativa) knockdown on cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase enzyme (cAPX) are more susceptible to oxidative stress than the wild type plants. APX is an important enzyme from oxidative metabolism of plants, acting on regulation of the endogenous levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). For this, rice plants knockdown on cAPX (Apx1/2s) and wild type (WT) were used for the experimentation. The plants were silenced by interference RNA technical (iRNA) and were grown for 35 days into 1.5 L pots containing nutritive solution under greenhouse conditions. The experiment I was performed with leaves segments immersed in methyl viologen (MV) 50 μM for 24h and the experiment II was performed by application of the following treatments: salt stress, high light and MV. The results from experiment I shown Apx1/2s plants have a higher level of H2O2 high than the levels found on WT rice plants, suggesting that Apx1/2s plants present a level of H2O2 near a level of cell signaling. The fact of WT plants had accumulated H2O2 1h after the treatment suggest the necessity of a signaling H2O2 level for stimulate defense systems. Apx1/2s plants unlike of WT plants presented a constant decline on H2O2 content, indicating a likely H2O2 scavenging excess. After 3h of treatment the chloroplastic enzymes SOD, APX and PHGPx presented upper active in Apx1/2s plants, in control and stress, compared with WT plants. These results suggest the existence of an antioxidant system quite active in the Apx1/2s plants. In experiment II the Apx1/2s plants presented no differences in the photochemical parameters when compared with WT plants, even possessing a smaller photosynthesis under controlled conditions. The energy dissipation (NPQ) in the Apx1/2s plants under high light was, in average, higher than WT plants, suggesting better energy dissipation. Even with efficient energy dissipation, the plants could not avoid the excess of energy in the photosystem and they suffered photoinhibition and damage in photosynthetic apparatus (Fv/Fm). In relation the WT plants, Apx1/2s plants presented a higher activity of antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT and PHGPx under controlled conditions, probably intending compensate the lack of cAPX. In the MV treatment the chloroplastic PHGPx was stimulated above 100% in the Apx1/2s plants, indicating that these plants can repair oxidative damage faster than the WT plants. The results suggest that Apx1/2s plants, despite the absence of cAPX, activated additional security systems to compensate the lack of cAPX and respond quickly and efficiently to stress situations.

O enxofre é um dos elementos essenciais para as plantas e as exigências nutricionais nesse nutriente variam com a espécie e a taxa de crescimento das plantas. Com o objetivo geral de avaliar o efeito da nutrição em enxofre no crescimento e no metabolismo do capimtanzânia (Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia) e do estilosante (Stylosanthes guianensis cv. Mineirão) desenvolveu-se a presente pesquisa com os objetivos específicos de avaliar os efeitos do fornecimento de enxofre em: i) modificações morfológicas, produtivas e nutricionais ocorridas na parte aérea e nas raízes; ii) metabolismo do nitrogênio e as consequentes alterações na composição e concentrações de aminoácidos; iii) concentrações de enxofre total, enxofre-sulfato e glutationa e na atividade das enzimas glutationa redutase e glutationa sulfo-transferase nas folhas recém-expandidas e raízes; iv) crescimento, metabolismo da glutationa e atividade das enzimas envolvidas no ciclo ascorbato-glutationa e v) absorção de sulfato e a expressão de genes de transportadores de sulfato. Os experimentos foram conduzidos em casa de vegetação e camara de crescimento, empregando-se soluções nutritivas. As doses de enxofre aplicadas foram ajustadas de modo a permitir nutrição baixa, intermediária e alta em enxofre para cada espécie. O enxofre afetou diretamente na emissão de folhas e de perfilhos, área foliar, comprimento e superfície radicular do capim-tanzânia e do estilosante Mineirão, aumentando a produção de massa seca da parte aérea e das raízes. A baixa disponibilidade de enxofre ocasionou o desequilíbrio nutricional com o nitrogênio nas plantas, evidenciado por alta relação nitrogênio:enxofre e altas concentrações de nitrato e aminoácidos livres no tecido vegetal. Sob limitação de enxofre, o capim apresentou predomínio de asparagina na composição aminoacídica, enquanto no estilosante ocorreu a predominância de arginina. A aplicação de enxofre aumentou as concentrações de enxofre total, enxofre-sulfato e glutationa nas folhas diagnósticas e raízes para ambas as espécies forrageiras. As plantas crescidas sob limitação de enxofre apresentaram alta atividade da enzima glutationa redutase visando regenerar a glutationa reduzida, que atua protegendo as células contra danos oxidativos decorrentes do estresse da deficiência nutricional. O fornecimento de enxofre aumentou a atividade da glutationa sulfo-transferase incrementando a capacidade do vegetal de suportar estresses ambientais. A baixa disponibilidade de enxofre induziu o aumento da atividade de enzimas antioxidantes que atuam na regeneração da glutationa e do ascorbato na forma reduzida. As plantas crescidas em baixa disponibilidade de enxofre apresentaram aumento da concentração de glutationa e maior alocação desse composto nas raízes. A distribuição de glutationa das folhas para as raízes em condição de limitação de enxofre regula a absorção de sulfato no capim e no estilosante de modo diferenciado. Para o capim com alta concentração de glutationa nas raízes decresce o influxo total de 34S, enquanto para o estilosante não ocasiona a redução da absorção de sulfato. / Sulfur is an essential element required by plants and the nutritional requirements in this nutrient vary according to species and plant growth rate. This research had the main objective of evaluating the effect of sulfur nutrition on growth and metabolism of Guinea grass (Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia) and stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis cv. Mineirão) and was developed with the specific objectives to determine the effects on i) morphological, productive and nutritional changes in plant shoots and roots, ii) nitrogen metabolism and the changes in the composition and concentrations of amino acids, iii) concentrations of total sulfur, sulfur-sulfate and glutathione and the activity of the enzymes glutathione reductase and glutathione sulfo-transferase in recently expanded leaves and roots, iv) growth, glutathione metabolism and activity of enzymes involved in ascorbate-glutathione cycle and v) sulfate uptake and expression of sulfur transporters genes. The experiments were carried out in greenhouse and growth chamber, by using nutrient solutions. Sulfur supply were adjusted to low, intermediate and high S nutrition for each species. Sulfur supply influences the emission of leaves, tillering, leaf area, root length and surface of Guinea grass and stylo increasing production of dry mass of aboveground and roots. Sulfur limitation alters the distribution of photosynthates between aboveground and roots of Guinea grass and stylo providing reduction in dry matter production of roots. The plants of Guinea grass increase root surface as a mechanism for adaptation to limited S in the culture medium. The relative chlorophyll index (RCI) in the recently expanded leaves relates to the production of dry mass of aboveground and can be used to assess S nutritional status in Guinea grass and stylo. The application of S proves necessary to increase production of dry mass in Guinea grass and stylo. Low S availability caused nutritional imbalance with N in Guinea grass and stylo plants, as shown by a high N:S ratio and high concentrations of N-nitrate and free amino acids in plant tissues. Among amino acids, asparagine predominated in S-limited guineagrass and arginine in Slimited stylo. Increased S supply regulates N:S ratio at values close to 20:1, which provides N and S concentrations that are more suitable for protein synthesis and forage production in plants of both species. Adding S increased concentrations of total S, S-sulfate, and glutathione in diagnostic leaves and roots of both species collected at the two harvests. Plants grown under S limitation showed high levels of GR activity, related to the regeneration of GSH, which acts to protect cells against oxidative damage caused by the stress of nutritional deficiency. S supply increased GST activity, and consequently plants\' capacity to withstand environmental stresses. Low S availability increased activity of the antioxidant enzymes that act in the regeneration of GSH and AsA. Plants grown with low S availability showed higher concentration of glutathione and greater allocation of glutathione to roots. For Guinea grass, high glutathione concentrations in roots decrease the 34S uptake. For stylo not cause reduction of 34S uptake.

A cana-de-açúcar é uma das principais culturas agrícolas no cenário econômico e social brasileiro. Na cultura de cana-de-açúcar o estresse hídrico é o principal fator limitante para o aumento de produtividade, sendo responsável por alterações fisiológicas, bioquímicas e moleculares nas plantas, que podem deflagrar perturbações metabólicas que ativam a morte celular programada (MCP). Sabendo-se que o gene BI-1 apresenta o potencial de reduzir os efeitos da MCP desencadeado por estresses bióticos e abióticos em plantas, este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar plantas transgênicas de cana-de-açúcar que expressam o gene BI-1 de Arabidopsis thaliana (AtBI-1) em condições de estresse hídrico. Também, plantas transgênicas e controle foram inoculadas com o fungo Puccinia melanocephala demonstrando que o processo de transformação genética com o gene AtBI-1 alterou as características pré existentes de resistência a ferrugem marrom nas plantas transgênicas. Os estudos de tolerância ao défict hídrico foram realizados em dois experimentos, o experimento 1 com plantas transgênicas e controles de 90 dias e o experimento 2 com plantas de 60 dias. Plantas do experimento 1 foram analisadas quanto características morfológicas como número de estômatos e tricomas, altura e circunferência do colmo e após ficarem 24 dias sem água foram analisadas quanto a taxa fotossintética, comportamento estomático e conteúdo relativo de água nas folhas, enquanto no experimento 2 as plantas foram analisadas quanto aos teores de prolina, atividades das enzimas guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX), ascorbato peroxidase (APX) e catalase (CAT) após as plantas ficarem 17 dias sob déficit hídrico. Estas enzimas estão envolvidas em processos de desativação de elementos ativos de oxigênio. Os resultados demonstraram que as plantas transgênicas expressando o gene AtBI-1 possuem fenótipo de menor altura, e maior taxa fotossintética, maior comportamento estomático e maior conteúdo relativo de água nas folhas, e assim apresentam maior tolerância ao déficit hídrico que plantas controle. Contudo, houve baixo acúmulo de prolina, baixa atividade da GPOX, APX e CAT nas plantas transgênicas durante o estresse hídrico comparada com as plantas controle do mesmo tratamento. Porém foi observado alta atividade constitutiva da catalase nas plantas transgênicas. A atividade da catalase nestas plantas transgênicas sugere a possibilidade da interação entre AtBI-1 e calmudolinas. Futuros estudos podem contribuir para elucidar se a proteína BI-1 é essencial para a ativação das catalases por calmudolinas. / Sugarcane is one of the main agricultural crops in the Brazilian social and economic scenario. Water stress in the culture of sugarcane is the main limiting factor for increasing productivity accounting for physiological, biochemical and molecular plants that can trigger metabolic disturbances activating programmed cell death (MCP). Knowing that the BI-1 gene has the potential to reduce the effects of MCP triggered by biotic and abiotic stresses in plants, this study aimed to analyze transgenic sugarcane that express the BI-1 gene of Arabidopsis thaliana (AtBI-1) under water stress. Also, transgenic and control plants were inoculated with Puccinia melanocephala fungus demonstrating that the genetic transformation process with the AtBI-1 gene altered the pre-existing characteristics of brown rust resistance in transgenic plants. Studies of tolerance to water deficit were performed in two experiments, the experiment 1 was prepared with transgenic and control plants with 90 days and the experiment 2 used plants with 60 days. Plants from experiment 1 were analyzed as for morphological characteristics such as number of stomata and trichomes, height and diameter of stem after plants being under water for 24 days as were analyzed photosynthetic rate, stomatal behavior, relative water content in leaves while in the experiment 2, plants were analyzed for the levels of proline, enzyme activities of guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) under water deficit for 17 days. These enzymes are involved in deactivation of active elements oxygen. The results demonstrated that the transgenic plants expressing the AtBI-1 gene presented the phenotype of lower height, higher index of leaf area, higher photosynthetic rate, higher stomatal behavior and higher relative water content in leaves than control plants increasing tolerance to drought stress. However, there were low levels of proline, low activity of GPOX activity, APX and CAT in transgenic plants during drought stress compared to control plants of the same treatment, but the observed high constitutive activity of catalase in transgenic plants. Catalase activity in these transgenic plants suggests the possibility of interaction between AtBI-1 and calmudolinas. Future studies may contribute to understand whether the BI-1protein is essential for the activation of catalase by calmudolinas.

The aim of this study was to verify the possibility of ibuprofen degradation by selected plant cultures and determination of activities of antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase) as markers of oxidative stress caused by ibuprofen. Nicotiana tabaccum (cv. La Burley 21, cv. SR 1 and their GMOs) and Nicotiana glauca were used as experimental plants. The rate of removal of ibuprofen tested by tobacco was decreasing in the following order: N. tabaccum SR1 > N. tabaccum Zm-P60-1-T4 > N. tabaccum TRI 2T2 > N. glauca > N. tabaccum TRI 2T1 > N. tabaccum cv. La Burley > N. tabaccum Zm-P60-1-T5. As the most suitable tobacco for the removal of ibuprofen seemed untransformed N. tabaccum SR1. The long-term experiment showed that plant stress is being manifested even after longtime. N. tabaccum cv. La Burley 21 seemed to be the most tolerant to ibuprofen in compare with the total enzyme activities in cultures with the presence of ibuprofen and controls. N.glauca was the least tolerant cultivar. Keywords: phytoremediation, ibuprofen, Nicotiana tabaccum, Nicotiana glauca, HPLC, peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathion-S-transferase

To expand the understanding of aging in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, global quantification of metabolite and protein levels in young and aged nematodes was performed using mass spectrometry. With age, there was a decreased abundance of proteins functioning in transcription termination, mRNA degradation, mRNA stability, protein synthesis, and proteasomal function. Furthermore, there was altered S-adenosyl methionine metabolism as well as a decreased abundance of the S-adenosyl methionine synthetase (SAMS-1) protein. Other aging-related changes included alterations in free fatty acid levels and composition, decreased levels of ribosomal proteins, decreased levels of NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1), a shift in the cellular redox state, an increase in sorbitol content, alterations in free amino acid levels, and indications of altered muscle function and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ homeostasis. There were also decreases in pyrimidine and purine metabolite levels, most markedly nitrogenous bases. Supplementing the culture medium with cytidine (a pyrimidine nucleoside) or hypoxanthine (a purine base) increased lifespan slightly, suggesting that aging-induced alterations in ribonucleotide metabolism affect lifespan. An age-related increase in body size, lipotoxicity from ectopic yolk lipoprotein accumulation, a decline in NAD+ levels, and mitochondrial electron transport chain dysfunction may explain many of these changes. In addition, dietary restriction in aged worms resulting from sarcopenia of the pharyngeal pump likely decreases the abundance of SAMS-1, possibly leading to decreased phosphatidylcholine levels, larger lipid droplets, and ER and mitochondrial stress. The complementary use of proteomics and metabolomics yielded unique insights into the molecular processes altered with age in C. elegans.

This article focuses on a systems biology approach to studying the pathophysiology of cigarette smoking during pregnancy. Particular emphasis is given to the damaging role of oxidative stress. Cigarette smoking exerts multiple adverse affects but abundant evidence, mostly in adults, suggests that oxidative stress and free radical damage is a major pathophysiological factor. Smoking during pregnancy is known to contribute to numerous poor birth outcomes, such as low birth weight, preterm birth as well as life-long health and developmental problems. It is clinically important to know the separate contributions that cigarette derived-nicotine and smoking-induced free oxidative stress make to these poor outcomes. Surprisingly, the extent to which smoking dependent oxidative stress contributes to these poor outcomes is not well studied but the application of redox proteomics should be useful. Considerable biochemical evidence suggests that antioxidants, such as tocopherols and ascorbate, could be useful in minimizing oxidative stress induced pathology to the developing fetus in those women who, despite medical advice, continue to smoke. Nevertheless, this suggestion has yet to be tested in well-designed clinical studies.

Masters of Science / In this study, we observed that phosphate (P) deficiency stunted plant growth and produced plants with poor morphological characteristics (yellow and small leaves). Furthermore, we treated plants with 0.8 mM (control) and 0.02 mM P (deficient) in addition to 6 μM methylglyoxal (MG) and we observed that the plants treated with MG had a higher germination, and better morphological characteristics (the leaves were more dark green and bigger in size) compared to the P deficient plants. However, we also observed that the P deficient plants treated with MG had low levels of both O2- and H2O2 and this could be a possible reason for the improved growth and morphological characteristics. In contrast, the P deficient plants not treated with MG had high levels of O2- and H2O2 which could be the possible reason for the observed cell death. We also performed biochemical assays including superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, malondialdehyde content, ascorbic acid content, catalase, and most of the assays showed high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and low levels of antioxidant activities in plants not treated with MG while high levels of antioxidant activities and low levels of ROS were observed in plants treated with exogenous MG. Since nitric oxide (NO) is also known to be a signalling molecule, we did a NO assay and observed that NO content increased under low exogenous doses of MG. From our findings we came to a hypothesis that MG modulates P deficiency stress in P. vulgaris through NO signalling or it might be that NO and MG work in tandem to modulate signalling pathways under P deficiency. Finally, we looked at the nutrient profile and the results showed that while there was a poor nutrient profile generally under P deficiency, there was an improvement in nutrient profile when MG was administered at low doses.

Saccharides, a class of organic materials, are potential candidates for nonlinear optical applications. Ascorbic acid is a sugar acid and is classified as a monosaccharide. The molecule of ascorbic acid has two chiral centers and, therefore, four stereoisomers. Among them, two are naturally occurring compounds; L-ascorbic acid and D-isoascorbic acid. From these two acids various salts and other derivatives could be synthesized. In this thesis, four compounds of the ascorbic acid family were selected for detailed study based on their nonlinearity, chemical and physical stability and their crystallization characteristics. The thesis is organized into seven chapters. The first chapter covers the theoretical background of nonlinear optics, especially, second harmonic generation. Second chapter details the experimental techniques and methodology adopted. Chapter 3 discusses the crystal structure, growth, physical and nonlinear optical properties of Lithium Disoascorbate monohydrate (LDAM). Detailed analysis of refractive index measurements employing Brewsters angle method and determination of phase matching curves, effective nonlinear coefficient, walk off angle etc are given. In Chapter 4, investigations on Sodium D-isoascorbate monohydrate (NDAM) are presented. Detailed characterization of the crystals including thermal, optical, dielectric properties are carried out. Analyses of dielectric dispersion based on Cole-Cole equation are discussed. Comprehensive studies on laser damage of the crystals are discussed. Chapter 5 discusses the nonlinear optical properties of the monoclinic D-isoascorbic acid (DIA). Chapter 6 presents studies on the triclinic Lithium L-ascorbate dihydrate (LLA) crystals. The crystals exhibit intense non-collinear second harmonic rings as they possesses large birefringence coupled with high second order nonlinear coefficients. The SHG conversion efficiency of these crystals is 15 times that of KDP. In the final chapter, a comprehensive summary of the work carried out is presented along with scope for further investigations.

O ascorbato de monometilsilanotriol (AMS) apresenta as propriedades cosméticas do ácido ascórbico. Além de ser um antioxidante e despigmentante, o AMS apresenta silício em sua estrutura, assim sua presença em formulações tópicas tem como objetivo repor o silício endógeno, proporcionando a regeneração do tecido. O presente trabalho tem por objetivo, caracterizar e analisar o AMS formulações cosméticas. Para caracterização do princípio ativo, foram empregadas as seguintes técnicas: espectrofotometria no ultravioleta, espectrofotometria na região do infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FTIR), cromatografia em camada delgada, perda por dessecação, calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), termogravimetria (TG), termogravimetria derivada (DTG) e análise do tamanho de partícula. Avaliou-se o potencial antioxidante in vitro do AMS pelos métodos de DPPH (2,2´-difenil-1- picrilhidrazil) e ORAC(Oxigen Radical Absorbance Capacity Assay) . Para avaliar o comportamento do princípio ativo em formulações cosméticas foi realizado um estudo de estabilidade acelerada, no qual as mesmas foram armazenadas nas seguintes condições: 40º C ± 2, câmera de fotoestabilidade 25º C, armário fechado à temperatura de 25º C± 2 e geladeira a 5º C ± 2. Foram avaliados os caracteres organolépticos, o pH e viscosidade aparente, também foram efetuadas análises por DSC, tamanho de partícula e microscopia de luz polarizada. Para determinação do AMS foi desenvolvido e validado um método por cromatografia líquida da alta eficiência (CLAE) em fase reversa por pareamento iônico. De acordo com os resultados obtidos por TG/DTG/DSC pode-se associar o comportamento térmico do ativo isolado com aquele da espécie incorporada em formulações. Segundo o método de tamanho de partícula, pode-se avaliar que o AMS, apresentou tamanho de aproximadamente 1 µm (919 nm) e índice de polidispersidade de 0,111. Durante os experimentos para determinação da atividade antioxidante por DPPH, o AMS demonstrou ter propriedade antioxidante tão efetiva quanto o ácido ascórbico. O valor de ORAC obtido para o AMS (0,74) é próximo ao valor de ORAC para o ácido ascórbico (0,95). As formulações estudadas mantiveram suas características organolépticas, estabilidade física e viscosidade aparente, assim como, não sofreram alterações relevantes em termos de pH durante o período de 90 dias. A metodologia desenvolvida para determinação do AMS apresentou boa linearidade, precisão, limites de detecção e quantificação, podendo ser usada na análise de formulações cosméticas. Esse princípio ativo, mostrou ser uma excelente alternativa, como derivado do ácido ascórbico, por apresentar atividade antioxidante in vitro tão eficiente quanto à desse, assim como, uma estabilidade superior em formulações cosméticas. / The monomethylsilanetriol ascorbate( MSA) presents the same functional properties of vitamin C. Besides presents antioxidant and depigmentant activity, the monomethylsilanetriol ascorbate presents silanol in it chemical structure. The silanol is a privileged active ingredient for cosmetics because it essential for growth, development and regeneration of cutaneous connective tissue. The aim of this work was characterize and analyze the MSA in cosmetic formulations. To characterize and identified MSA was employed: ultraviolet/visible (UV/VIS) spectrophotometry, fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), thin layer chromatography (TLC), thermogravimetry/derivative thermogravimetry (TG/DTG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and particle size determination. For MSA in vitro antioxidant activity evaluation the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ORAC (Oxigen Radical Absorbance Capacity Assay) method were used. To evaluate the behavior of MSA in cosmetic formulations the samples of emulsions were submitted to the accelerated stability study, for 90 days, were stored at 40 ± 2oC and light 25 ± 2oC. All samples were also stored at room temperature protected from light. Appearance, pH and apparent viscosity were evaluated. The DSC, particle size analyze and microscopy also were employed for analyze the cosmetic formulations. To determine MSA in formulations it was employed and validated a reversed phase HPLC method with ion pairing. According to the results obtained by TG/DTG/DSC the thermal behavior of isolated MSA can be associated with thermal behavior of MSA in formulations. Particle size distributions results showed that the average size was approximately 1 µm for MSA (919 nm) and polydispersity index of 0,111. During DPPH experiments, MSA presented antioxidant properties as good as vitamin C. The value of ORAC obtained for MSA was (0,74). The value of ORAC for ascorbic acid is 0,95. All samples remained stable throughout stability studies period. The developed methodology for determination of MSA presented good linearity, precision, limit of quantification and limit of detection and can be employed for analyze cosmetic formulations containing MSA. In conclusion, MSA might have interesting applications in cosmetic products and can be a good alternative for ascorbic acid derivative because it for demonstrated strong in vitro antioxidant properties as efficient as and more stable than vitamin C.